Free Preventive Care Services

Membership perks and discounts are always a plus, especially if the initial membership fee is high. Joining a gym membership, for example, might be expensive to start, but the complimentary benefits of joining could be worth the cost.

When enrolling onto a health insurance plan, there are many free preventive care services available to you as a result of the Affordable Care Act. This is true regardless of where you live in the United States or which medical plan you are covered under, so long as you meet the basic preventive health coverage guidelines and the service is provided by a doctor or health facility that is part of your plan network.

As a Kaiser Permanente member, one can expect to get free preventative care services when enrolled on Individual Health Insurance or Small Group Insurance. There is one exception: Members who enrolled on a health plan that was effective before March 23, 2010 when the Affordable Care Act was passed, can still receive preventive services, but the visits would not necessarily be free. Under these grandfathered plans, preventive care services couldAs a Kaiser Permanente member, one can expect to get free preventative care services when enrolled on Individual Health Insurance or Small Group Insurance. There is one exception: Members who enrolled on a health plan that was effective before March 23, 2010 when the Affordable Care Act was passed, can still receive preventive services, but the visits would not necessarily be free. Under these grandfathered plans, preventive care services could be chargeable. The cost would be based on whatever the member’s particular plan charges. be chargeable. The cost would be based on whatever the member’s particular plan charges.

Eligibility for Kaiser Permanente and Free Preventative Care Services

As a Kaiser Permanente member, one can expect to get free preventative care services when enrolled on Individual Health Insurance or Small Group Insurance. There is one exception: Members who enrolled on a health plan that was effective before March 23, 2010 when the Affordable Care Act was passed, can still receive preventive services, but the visits would not necessarily be free. Under these grandfathered plans, preventive care services could be chargeable. The cost would be based on whatever the member’s particular plan charges.

If desired, members can switch from a grandfathered plan to another offering. Some restrictions apply, so check your plan benefits before deciding to switch. For details, consult an insurance representative about the pros and cons of switching plans.

What is preventive health coverage?

Preventive health coverage refers to doctor visits and health screenings that help identify possible medical conditions so they can be taken care of earlier and have a better chance of treatment. For example, getting an annual cholesterol test is considered preventive, because it is performed to see if one’s cholesterol levels are within healthy standards and to determine if alterations need to be made to regulate these levels.

Note that if you go in for a routine preventive visit but you also consult with the doctor on non-wellness issues, the visit could end up becoming chargeable. The same is true for screening tests or other preventive services that show negative results. The charge would be whatever the regular cost would be on the policy for a doctor’s visit or lab test, for example.

Examples of Preventive Services

The preventive services that are available without charge vary based on the patient’s age group and gender. Following are examples of some of the more common free preventative care services.

Why are preventive services important?

Having routine checkups and screenings are for people, what tune ups are for cars. They help us last longer and function at our best.

Kaiser Permanente takes preventive services seriously. Right from the beginning, Kaiser Permanente has operated with a pro-active approach to healthcare. Providing preventive health coverage services are one big way Kaiser Permanente helps members to stay out of the doctor’s office or a hospital. One example of how they are doing just that has to do with their work on cancer. More Kaiser Permanente members with cancer are in the lower stages of the disease, when treatment has a better chance of succeeding, than in the more progressive stages. Click Kaiser Permanente and Cancer, to view the efforts the organization is making.